Anthurium plant named ‘ANTHGERXAM’

ABSTRACT

A new Anthurium plant, rich in shoot formation, named ‘ANTHGERXAM’ particularly distinguished by having blistered, red, orbicular-cordate, and durable spathes that retain the original color for a very long period of time, dark green and narrowly cordate, durable leaves, white spadices with orange-yellow tips, early and rich flowering continuously throughout the year, and a plant height of 33.0 cm to 38.0 cm is disclosed.

Genus and species: Anthurium andraeanum L.

Variety denomination: ‘ANTHGERXAM’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Anthurium, botanically known as Anthurium andraeanum L., and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘ANTHGERXAM’. The new Anthurium plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands. The objective of this breeding program was to create a new plant with a height of 33.0 cm to 38.0 cm having blistered, red, orbicular-cordate, and durable spathes.

The new variety originated from a cross-pollination made in January 2011 in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands. The female parent was a red Anthurium pot plant designated ‘17399-07’ (unpatented), and the male parent was a red Anthurium pot plant designated ‘13028-023’ (unpatented).

A single plant was selected from the progeny of the stated cross in January 2014. Asexual reproduction of the new variety by meristem tissue culture in 2016 in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands, has demonstrated that the new variety reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations.

Community Plant Variety Rights for this variety have been applied for in the European Union on Nov. 1, 2018 (Application no. 2018/2889), by Applicant who obtained the subject matter disclosed directly from the inventor. ‘ANTHGERXAM’ has not been made publicly available or sold anywhere in the world prior to the effective filing date of this application with the exception of sales or disclosures made one year or less before the effective filing date of this claimed invention by Applicant who obtained ‘ANTHGERXAM’ directly from the inventor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands:

-   -   1) Blistered, red, orbicular-cordate spathes;     -   2) White spadices with orange-yellow tips;     -   3) Green, narrowly cordate leaves;     -   4) Spathes are positioned far above the leaves;     -   5) Flower shape in cross section of middle zone is concave; and     -   6) Rich shooting formation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Anthurium plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the overall plant habit including blooms, bud, and foliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs are of a 30-week-old plant grown in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands, in May 2020. Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the actual colors of the new variety.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms, bud, and foliage.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the mature spathe.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up of the upper leaf blade surface.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘ANTHGERXAM’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 30-week-old plants which were planted from tissue culture in 14-centimeter (diameter) pots and grown in a glass greenhouse between 19° C. and 24° C. Observations were made in May 2020. Color readings were taken under 5000 lux natural light in the greenhouse. Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2015).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Araceae.         -   Botanical.—Anthurium andraeanum L.         -   Common name.—Anthurium.         -   Denomination.—‘ANTHGERXAM’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Anthurium plant ‘17399-07’ (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—Anthurium plant ‘13028-023’ (unpatented). -   Plant:     -   -   Propagation.—Tissue culture.         -   Root description.—Fleshy-creamy (RHS 158A) and pink (RHS             39C) colored roots with small hairy lateral roots having             greenish-yellow (RHS 5A) colored root tips.         -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—28 to 32 weeks             after planting in a 14-cm (diameter) pot.         -   Growth habit.—Upright.         -   Height (measured from soil, including inflorescence).—33.0             cm to 38.0 cm.         -   Width (measured from leaf tips).—32.0 cm to 37.0 cm. -   Leaves:     -   -   Immature leaves.—Length: 11.0 cm to 13.0 cm. Width: 7.0 cm             to 8.0 cm. Color: Upper surface: RHS 146A. Lower surface:             RHS 146C with a hint of RHS 176C at the margin. Texture             (both upper and lower surfaces): Leathery, thin, smooth, and             glossy         -   Mature leaves.—Length (fully expanded): 14.0 cm to 17.0 cm.             Width: 9.0 cm to 10.0 cm. Shape: Narrowly cordate. Apex:             Acuminate. Base: Cordate. Leaf blade angle with the petiole:             Between 110 degrees and 130 degrees. Leaf margin: Entire.             Color: Upper surface: RHS 147A. Lower surface: RHS 146B.             Leaf blistering: Very weak. Texture: Upper surface:             Leathery, thick, and smooth. Lower surface: Leathery, thick,             smooth, and glossy. Venation: Pinnate veining; the mid-vein             and primary veins (the veins that radiate out from the             junction of petiole and leaf) protrude at the underside of             the leaf blade. Venation color: Upper surface: RHS 144A.             Lower surface: Something in between RHS 176B and 176C.         -   Lobes.—Present. Arrangement: Leaf blade has two lobes             extending past the petiole. The lobes are non-touching.             Length of lobes of mature leaf blades: 2.0 cm to 3.0 cm.             Width of lobes of mature leaf blades: 3.0 cm to 4.0 cm.             Distance from petiole/leaf junction to highest point on             lobes of mature leaf: 2.0 cm to 3.0 cm.         -   Petiole.—Cross-section: Round. Diameter: 0.3 cm to 0.4 cm.             Length: 13.0 cm to 17.0 cm for a mature leaf size. Color:             Mature leaf: RHS 144A. Immature leaf: RHS 144B. Cataphyll             color surrounding the petiole: Outside: RHS 180A with a             touch of RHS 144B. Inside: RHS 180C.         -   Geniculum.—Length: 1.5 cm to 2.0 cm. Width: 0.4 cm to             0.5 cm. Color: RHS 144A. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Arrangement.—Single.         -   Flowering habit (length of flowering season).—Continuous.         -   Number of inflorescences per plant.—6 to 8.         -   Fragrance.—Absent.         -   Longevity of inflorescence on plant.—Over a year. -   Spathe:     -   -   Buds.—The spathe is tightly rolled around the spadix and             extrudes from the peduncle sheath. After the spathe is fully             opened, the peduncle elongates some extra centimeters.         -   Arrangement.—Spathe angle with the peduncle is between 115             degrees and 125 degrees; the spathe stands on a wiry             peduncle about 8.0 cm to 11.0 cm above the foliage.         -   Shape.—Orbicular cordate.         -   Apex.—Mucronate.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Texture.—Blistered.         -   Intensity of spathe glossiness.—Weak.         -   Intensity of spathe blistering.—Medium.         -   Margin.—Undulated.         -   Size.—Length: 8.2 cm to 8.7 cm. Width: 8.3 cm to 8.8 cm.         -   Lobes.—Present. Arrangement: The spathe has two lobes             extending past the peduncle. The lobes are non-touching.             Length: 1.5 cm to 2.5 cm. Width: 3.5 cm to 4.5 cm.         -   Color.—Just fully open: Upper surface: RHS N45A. Lower             surface: RHS N45C. This red color remains for a very long             period, at least more than 30 weeks after opening. The             spathe turns green after some weeks. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Shape.—Erect.         -   Cross-section.—Round.         -   Length.—25.0 cm to 27.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.3 cm to 0.4 cm.         -   Color.—RHS 144B.         -   Intensity of peduncle anthocyanin coloration.—Weak. -   Flowering time:     -   -   General.—One small, rooted, untreated tissue culture plant             of 8.0 cm tall will flower, depending on the season, after             28 to 32 weeks and 6 to 7 blossoms appear. More blossoms             appear after some additional weeks so that a full flowering             and commercial plant will have 7 to 8 red spathes. Smaller             blossoms may occur on immature plants. -   Spadix:     -   -   Size.—Length: 3.5 cm to 4.0 cm (depending on flower size).             Width (at apex): 0.5 cm to 0.6 cm. Width (at base): 0.6 cm             to 0.7 cm.         -   Shape.—Columnar.         -   Angle of spadix tip with peduncle.—155 degrees to 165             degrees.         -   Texture.—When the spathe is unfurling the spadix is smooth.             When the spadix matures, small stigmata protrude. The             stigmata are evenly distributed around the spadix. The             spadix matures from base to top, slowly giving the spadix a             somewhat rough appearance.         -   Color.—Immature: RHS 17A. Mature: RHS 155D. Ages to: RHS             153A. -   Flowers:     -   -   Quantity per spadix.—100 to 150.         -   Spadix flower arrangement.—Bisexual, rounded in             cross-section.         -   Shape.—Rounded.         -   Size.—Length: 0.05 cm to 0.10 cm. Diameter (maximum): 0.10             cm.         -   Color.—RHS 156D. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Not visible.         -   Pollen amount.—Absent.         -   Pistil.—Quantity: Many. Length: Less than 0.01 cm. Color:             RHS 156D.         -   Style.—Not observed to date.         -   Stigma.—Shape: Ovoid. Diameter: Less than 0.01 cm. Color:             RHS 156D.         -   Ovary.—Rarely visible.         -   Ovary color.—Not measured. -   Fruit and seed set: None observed to date. -   Disease and pest resistance: No specific resistance or     susceptibility observed to pathogens or pests common to Anthurium     under commercial conditions to date.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND SIMILAR COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

‘ANTHGERXAM’ differs from the female parent plant ‘17399-07’ (unpatented) in that ‘ANTHGERXAM’ has a concave spathe shape in cross section of the middle zone and spathes that are positioned far above the leaves, whereas ‘17399-07’ has a straight to slightly concave spathe shape in cross section of the middle zone and spathes that are positioned slightly above the leaves. Additionally, ‘ANTHGERXAM’ has wider spathes than ‘17399-07’.

‘ANTHGERXAM’ differs from the male parent plant ‘13028-023’ (unpatented) in that ‘ANTHGERXAM’ has acuminate leaf apexes and a concave spathe shape in cross section of the middle zone, whereas ‘13028-023’ has acute leaf apexes and a straight spathe shape in cross section of the middle zone.

‘ANTHGERXAM’ differs from similar commercial variety ‘ANTHYTZEL’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 30,930) in that ‘ANTHGERXAM’ has acuminate leaf apexes, whereas ‘ANTHYTZEL’ has acute leaf apexes. Additionally, ‘ANTHGERXAM’ has shorter leaves and narrower spathes than ‘ANTHYTZEL’.

‘ANTHGERXAM’ differs from similar commercial variety ‘ANTHDASZUM’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,721) in that ‘ANTHGERXAM’ has shorter leaves and narrower spathes than ‘ANTHDASZUM’. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Anthurium plant named ‘ANTHGERXAM’, substantially as illustrated and described herein. 